98 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
same hirsute mantle in which they then stood before 
me. Strange as the thing appeared, there was nothing 
disagreeable in the back aspect of these children, for 
the hair was so short that it did not in the slightest 
degree conceal the figure, and of so soft a texture as to 
excite an impression rather of delicacy than of coarse- 
ness in these beautiful brothers. 
On the day that followed our meeting with those 
children and their lovely mother, a serious event oc- 
curred which interrupted our progress for some time. 
One of the coolies engaged in transporting our bag- 
gage having thrown himself down under the shade of 
some aloes to take his usual rest at our first halting- 
place, was bitten in the side by a venomous snake. 
In a short time he became violently sick, foamed 
at the mouth, and exhibited symptoms of extreme 
agony. It unfortunately happened that no one pre- 
sent had the means of administering to his positive 
relief ; he therefore lay in a deplorable state, being in 
strong convulsions, and the effects of the poison be- 
coming every minute more and more powerful, he was 
evidently in a state of great suffering, and writhed 
fearfully. At a venture, I poured a small quantity 
of brandy down his throat, which for the moment 
seemed to arrest the strong muscular action, and give 
a little comparative ease; but the spasms soon returned 
with aggravated violence, and all hope of saving him 
vanished. He continued the whole day in a dreadful 
state ; during the night delirium came on, which sub- 
sided after some hours, leaving him lethargic and 
speechless. 
Finding his case hopeless, some of his companions 
